Maps help residents track earthquake repair progress

New maps outlining key issues and repairs to the city’s earthquake-damaged sewer network are being prepared to help residents understand the work happening in their neighbourhoods.

The first map released today shows the location of major pressure sewer replacements and wastewater overflows into city waterways. This will be updated monthly by the Christchurch City Council’s water and waste team. Additional maps, showing the status of the entire sewer network, water supply repair work and roading repairs will be made available over coming weeks. You will find them under the Wastewater section at www.ccc.govt.nz/earthquake. Map [PDF 2MB]

Council Water and Waste Manager Mark Christison says the aim is to provide as much information to residents as possible about what is happening in their neighbourhoods.

“The rebuild of our wastewater networks and other damaged infrastructure is a complex process, but we know residents are eager to learn as much about the plan as possible. These maps will help us keep people informed by singling out some of the key works and updating on progress.”

The map released today shows that there are almost 10km of major sewer pressure mains that need to be completely replaced. All of these are now under design or construction and 2.6km is already in the ground. This work is expected to be completed by 31 August and it will significantly reduce the levels of wastewater overflows that are being released into waterways.

“We also wanted to clearly show residents the locations of wastewater overflows that are being released into city rivers, the estuary and beaches. We have already made good progress in reducing these overflows – from 66,000 cubic metres a day at 13 March to 30,000 cubic metres as of 6 May – and our updates will show how well we are progressing in this respect going forward.”

Good progress has also been made in recent weeks with the clearing of silt and sand from damaged wastewater pipes. By the end of this week, 20,000 people in the worst-affected areas of the city will have been told that they can once again start using their household toilet. Around 30,000 people in a defined area of eastern Christchurch have relied on chemical toilets and portaloos since the earthquake because sewer lines were clogged with sand and silt.

Mr Christison says that once this phase of work has been completed as many portable toilets as possible will be removed from city streets and the repair work on the gravity sewers in neighbourhoods can start in earnest. Sewer crews have been undertaking repairs in the hill suburbs where wastewater pipelines have not been clogged with sand and silt. This work is also high priority in that it reduces the risk of slips.

“This is going to be a long-term repair job and residents need to be aware that there will be construction work going on around their neighbourhoods for some years to come. Throughout all this, we will be keeping them updated on progress and we will work hard to limit disruption to roads and communities. We understand that there is an eagerness for information and we are working hard to supply this, at the same time as pushing ahead with the essential repairs to Christchurch’s earthquake-damaged infrastructure.”

Information, which will be regularly updated, can be found online at www.ccc.govt.nz/earthquake.